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American Morning
Hinkley Wants More Freedom
Aired September 02, 2003 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is a hearing this morning for the man who shot President Ronald Reagan about 20 years ago. John Hinkley Jr. being held in a psychiatric facility wants to be allowed to leave the hospital unsupervised to visit his parents. Patty Davis is watching that live in D.C. and joins with us now more. Patty, good morning.
PATTY DAVID, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Well what John Hinkley is asking a federal judge for today specifically is unsupervised visits to his parents home in Williamsburg, Virginia. Some of those overnight stays. Now if he gets that it will be first time in 20 years that Hinkley will be allowed to leave St. Elizabeth's hospital here in the Washington D.C. area alone.
Now Hinkley was committed to that hospital in 1982 after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in an attempted assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan. His lawyers say the 48-year-old Hinkley's mental health has improved dramatically. They say he is no longer dangerous and that giving him more freedom is a critical component in his treatment.
But prosecutors are opposing this. They say Hinkley has a history of deception and violence. Also opposing Hinkley's conditional release, former President Reagan's children Michael and Patty.
For its part the hospital says that Hinkley's depression and psychoses is much better, but the hospital's recommending a more gradual conditional release. Unsupervised visits with his family here in the D.C. area first.
Hinkley is now allowed supervised visits with his family in the D.C. area. He has been allowed to go bowling, even to the movies. But up until now never allowed to travel on his own. We do expect to see him in court today, Bill, and his lawyers to make his case.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Patty, thanks. Patty Davis in D.C.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 2, 2003 - 08:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is a hearing this morning for the man who shot President Ronald Reagan about 20 years ago. John Hinkley Jr. being held in a psychiatric facility wants to be allowed to leave the hospital unsupervised to visit his parents. Patty Davis is watching that live in D.C. and joins with us now more. Patty, good morning.
PATTY DAVID, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Well what John Hinkley is asking a federal judge for today specifically is unsupervised visits to his parents home in Williamsburg, Virginia. Some of those overnight stays. Now if he gets that it will be first time in 20 years that Hinkley will be allowed to leave St. Elizabeth's hospital here in the Washington D.C. area alone.
Now Hinkley was committed to that hospital in 1982 after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in an attempted assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan. His lawyers say the 48-year-old Hinkley's mental health has improved dramatically. They say he is no longer dangerous and that giving him more freedom is a critical component in his treatment.
But prosecutors are opposing this. They say Hinkley has a history of deception and violence. Also opposing Hinkley's conditional release, former President Reagan's children Michael and Patty.
For its part the hospital says that Hinkley's depression and psychoses is much better, but the hospital's recommending a more gradual conditional release. Unsupervised visits with his family here in the D.C. area first.
Hinkley is now allowed supervised visits with his family in the D.C. area. He has been allowed to go bowling, even to the movies. But up until now never allowed to travel on his own. We do expect to see him in court today, Bill, and his lawyers to make his case.
HEMMER: We'll watch it. Patty, thanks. Patty Davis in D.C.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
